“Cypher”

A Cypher is an informal gathering of rappers, beatboxers, and/or dancers in a circle, improvising, freestyling, or taking turns showcasing skills. It’s a collaboration, non-competitive space where artist feed off each other’s energy to foster creativity.

Cyphers also represents a community, a “circle of influence,” or a perfect circle.

In this body of work, I am approaching collage in the same way that one would approach a freestyle. I am gluing paper, drawing lines, painting marks, and then responding to those actions with more marks and gluing. The composition of the collage builds upon itself just as the lyrical composition of a rap would. In the creative process, I have a loose idea of where I want things to go, but I am letting the responses to the previous actions be the ultimate guide. 

“When I am writing. I’m trapped between the lines. I escape when I finish the rhyme.”

                                                                                                                    Rakim “I Know You Got Soul”